Improvement in wind-wheels



UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

F. G. FOWLER, OF MECHANIOSBURG, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN WIND-WH EELS.

Specification forming part Aof Letters Patent No. 43,8413, dated August16, 1564.

vTo aZZw/Lom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, F. G. FOWLER, of Mechanicsburg, in the county ofSangamon and State of Illinois, have invented a new and ImprovedWind-Wheel; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in theart to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1represents a sectional side elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of wind-wheelswhich are provided with a series of vertical vanes hung to horizontalarms which extend from a vertical central arbor in such a manner thatsaid vanes will readily accommodate themselves to the direction in whichthe wind strikes them as the wheel revolves.

The nature of my invention and its peculiar advantages will be readilyunderstood from the following description:

My wheel consists of a vertical shaft, A, secured in a light strongframe, B, and provided at both ends with cranks, belt-wheels, or anykind of gearing that may be necessary to communicate or transmit motionor power. It is provided with four (more or less) vanes, C, hinged toarms D, which extend in a horizontal direction from the shaft, two (ormore) in a set, according to the length of the vanes. Said vanes arerectangular in form, made out of light material, and secured with ledgesand rivets. Two of these ledges are placed transversely across the vaneand two obliquely in the form of the letter M. The pivots or hingeswhich secure the vanes to the ends of the arms D are not placed in thevertical center line of the vane, but to a distance of about one-thirdthe width of said vanes from their outer edges, and small brass washersmay be placed underneath the pivots to diminish the friction as thevanes turn on their axes. Opposite to each vane, and secured to theshaft A by means of a collar, a, or in any other desirable manner, i's aspring, b, which may be iiat or spiral, or made of indiarubber or anyother suitable material, and each spring connects with one of the vanesby means of a cord, c, having divergingstrands,which are fastened to theinner surface of the vane on either side of the line of its axis. Thiscord has attached to it a device, d, by which the force of the springmay be increased or diminished, and

which is so adjusted that the elastic force of the spring tends toretain the vane at right angles with the arms to which it is hinged.Attached to the sides ofthe vanes and to the arms are other cords, e,which arrest the motion of the vane i'n one direction, but allo.r it toturn freely in the opposite direction. The foot of the shaft is stoppedin a suitable box made of or lined with some suitable material, whichdiminishes the friction and at the same timeresists any great degree ofwear. If the wheel is in motion in the direction of arrow 1, Fig. 2,with the wind blowingin the direction of arrows 2, each vane in passingthe point m stands edgewise to the wind, and the force of its springholdsit at right angles with the arms to which it is hinged. As itpasses this point its external surface is gradually presented to thewind and several different forces begin to act on it. The first force isthat of the wind acting on the largest portion of the vane as the sameis divided by the' line of its axis, which force has a tendency to closethe wider portion of the vane toward the arms D. Opposing that force isthe elastic force of the spring, the centrifugal force of the largestportion of the vane, the friction ofthe vane upon its axis,

and its inertia, and these forces are so balanced that the vane is heldto the wind at the proper inclination, and that the wind is enabled toexert a propelling power on the same. As the vane passes the point p,the force of the wind, acting on its largest portion, will generally besufficient to overcome the forces opposed and the vane will liealongside the arm as shown in Fi .2 and in this position.

the vane will pass the point n, giving the wind a chance to exert itsfull power on the wheel. As the vane passes from the point n to thepoint q, the wind exerts the same amount of force on the same as it doeswhile the vane passes from p to u, the distance through which the vanepasses and its inclination to the wind being the same in both cases.After passing the point q the vane is quickly reversed, changing inposition, as clearly shown in the drawings. There are three forcescombined to produce this motion of thev vane-viz., the elastic force ofthe spring, the centrifugal force of the largest portion of the vane,and the force of the wind on its inner side. After the vane has turnedninety degrees upon its axis, the spring tends to retard it but if theforce of the spring provesinsufficient, the vane is eft'ectuallyarrested by the cord e. In this position the vane passes from q to m,giving to the Wind a chalice to exert on it a propel ling force until itarrives at its startingpoint m, Where the same is turned edgewise ttothe wind, as above stated. By increasing` the tension of the springs bymeans of the tensionregulators d the operation can be somewhat modified.In that case the Yanes Will not turn down alongside the arms in passingfrom 19 to i 'n and the Wheel will not exert thel same degree ot' poweras before, but it will revolve with proportionally-in creased velocit y.Yet, should any greatv resistance be presented, the vancs will turn downbroadside to the Wind and exert theirf ull force till the obstruction isovercome. Thus the springs tend to regulate the inclination of the vanesto suit different circumstances.

In practice the wheel will be strengthened by suitable braces andsta-ys, but these parts are not represented in the drawing sbecause theyhave no bearing on or connection with those parts which constitute myinvention.

By the peculiar combination of the adjustable springs with the vanes theWind is enabled to exert a propelling power on each vane throughout itsentire circuit except the one dead point, and my Wheel gives a muchlarger power than other Wheels with hinged adjustable vanes of a similarconstruction.

Whatlclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The springs b, connecting with the vanes C at points on either sideot' the line of their axes, incombination With said Yanes hung on pivotsat points outsidetheir longitudinal centers and revolving with the shaftA in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein specified.

2. The tension-regulators d, in combination vwith the springs b andvanes C, hung as described, and applied in the manner and for thepurpose substantially as set forth.

r. G. FoWLnR.

Witnesses:

WiLLIAM SHORT, WESLEY BULLARD.

